Twice within the final six NBA Draft cycles, the participant who completed because the No. 1-ranked highschool recruit in basketball has gone on to develop into the No. 1 decide within the subsequent NBA Draft.
That’s anticipated to be thrice in seven draft cycles come subsequent summer season.
Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, 247Sports’ No. 1 participant within the 2024 recruiting class rankings, is as large an early favourite to be drafted No. 1 as Cade Cunningham was coming into the 2019-20 season when it final got here to fruition, and in related standing as worldwide star Victor Wembanyama when he started his remaining professional season abroad coming into the 2022-23 season earlier than his choice at No. 1.
Leaping from No. 1 recruit to No. 1 decide is way from a assure, in fact – as you may see under courting again to 2011 – however given the draft panorama coming into the season and the expectations Flagg carries with him, there is a perception that for these , it is him vs. the sphere as we close to the beginning of the season.
The place current No. 1 recruits had been chosen in NBA Draft
| Recruiting class | No. 1 recruit | NBA Draft end result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cooper Flagg, Duke | TBD |
| 2023 | Ron Holland, NBA G League Ignite | 2024 No. 5 |
| 2022 | Nick Smith, Arkansas | 2023 No. 27 |
| 2021 | Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga | 2022 No. 2 |
| 2020 | Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State | 2021 No. 1 |
| 2019 | Anthony Edwards, Georgia | 2020 No. 1 |
| 2018 | RJ Barrett, Duke | 2019 No. 3 |
| 2017 | Marvin Bagley, Duke | 2018 No. 2 |
| 2016 | Josh Jackson, Kansas | 2017 No. 4 |
| 2015 | Ben Simmons, LSU | 2016 No. 1 |
| 2014 | Emmanuel Mudiay, Chinese language Basketball Affiliation | 2015 No. 7 |
| 2013 | Andrew Wiggins, Kansas | 2014 No. 1 |
| 2012 | Nerlens Noel, Kentucky | 2013 No. 6 |
| 2011 | Anthony Davis, Kentucky | 2012 No. 1 |
Spoiler alert: Flagg is the No. 1 prospect in our preseason prospect rankings. He has been and continues to be the No. 1 participant on all our mock drafts printed at CBS Sports activities since this summer season.
That would change, although, as a result of so far as drafts go, the 2025 class is trying stronger than 2024 by a large margin. And including to that, there’s numerous uncertainty about some large X-factors close to the highest of the draft who might make large leaps and contend for the No. 1 spot.
So sure, proper now, it is Flagg vs. the sphere. We’ll see if that sticks.
This is a brief checklist of potential spoilers who might monitor him down.
2. Dylan Harper | Rutgers | PG
There’s quite a bit to love concerning the two five-star freshmen Rutgers is bringing on this yr and Harper, for my cash, is the popular prospect for me to Ace Bailey by a really slim margin. The son of Ron Harper, he is a 6-foot-6 lefty lead guard who’s polished, poised and productive, with versatility to play on and off the ball. His really feel for the sport and skill to handle an offense is what NBA teams search for on the guard spot.
3. Ace Bailey | Rutgers | SF
NBA groups do not draft purely off traits — but when they did, Bailey may be the No. 1 prospect by a large margin forward of Flagg. The 6-10 wing has the scale of an influence ahead and the fluidity and motion of a taking pictures guard. He is not only a undertaking with good traits, both. His shot is pure and his expertise as a creator and scorer are very a lot superior for an 18-year-old. There might be evaluators who worth Bailey over Harper long-term and will take into account him in the identical tier as Flagg due to the scale, talent and star potential he brings to the desk. It is arduous to argue in opposition to it.
4. VJ Edgecombe | Baylor | SG
Maybe probably the most explosive participant on this yr’s class is Edgecombe. He has good dimension and is a strolling spotlight reel who 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein noticed in his analysis is a “terror in transition.” Edgecombe is in a tier beneath the Rutgers duo for me however might elevate himself this season by sharpening some expertise, enjoying sensible inside Baylor’s guard-friendly scheme and making use of himself defensively. Some enchancment along with his shot, decision-making and his deal with might push him into the combo at No. 1.
5. Nolan Traore | France | PG
In a guard-heavy lottery pool for 2025, Traore appears to be like like a possible No. 1 decide contender along with his dimension, scoring and playmaking versatility. He is 6-5 with a clean deal with and powerful court docket imaginative and prescient, having already put collectively a very nice worldwide resume of manufacturing as a lead guard working comfortably in pick-and-roll conditions. The large query right here is that if his shot — notably from distance — can enhance. However the best way he performs — in rhythm, not often rushed, regardless of not being a 99th percentile athlete — has some shades of Cade Cunningham.
2025 NBA Draft prospect rankings
| Rk | Participant | Faculty | Yr | Pos | HT |
| 1 | Cooper Flagg | Duke | Fr | PF | 6-9 |
| 2 | Dylan Harper | Rutgers | Fr | PG | 6-6 |
| 3 | Airious Bailey | Rutgers | Fr | SF | 6-10 |
| 4 | VJ Edgecombe | Baylor | Fr | SG | 6-5 |
| 5 | Nolan Traore | France | – | PG | 6-4 |
| 6 | Dink Pate | G League Ignite | – | SG | 6-8 |
| 7 | Kasparas Jakucionis | Illinois | Fr | SF | 6-6 |
| 8 | Drake Powell | N. Carolina | Fr | SG | 6-6 |
| 9 | Boogie Fland | Arkansas | Fr | PG | 6-2 |
| 10 | Kon Knueppel | Duke | Fr | SF | 6-7 |
| 11 | Tre Johnson | Texas | Fr | SF | 6-6 |
| 12 | Liam McNeeley | UConn | Fr | SF | 6-7 |
| 13 | Jalil Bethea | Miami (FL) | Fr | SG | 6-5 |
| 14 | JT Toppin | Texas Tech | Soph | PF | 6-9 |
| 15 | Alex Karaban | UConn | Jr | SF | 6-8 |
